Miniature track-switch.



c. E. 00w.

MINIATURE TRACK SWI, TCH..

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 19M. RENEWED SEPT-29. 1915.

1 g 1 9 1 .1 n Patented May 2; 1916- 6) 7 .W* W/Z@ THE COLUIXBEA PLANOURAPH co, WASHINGTON, D. c.

CLARENCE E. DUTY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MINIATURE TRACK-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented at, 2, mm.

Application filed November 9, 1914, Serial No. 870,946. Renewed September 29, 1915. fierial No. 53,201.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. DOTY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Miniature Track- Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to -inventions in miniature track switches and refers more particularly to track switches used for toy railway systems.

Among the salient objects of the invention are, to provide a track switch for a toy railroad of the class described in which the manipulation of the switch may be performed with a minimum of effort or skill; to provide a construction in which the switch is provided with improved means for retaining it in open or closed position without the possibility of it becoming accidentally displaced by vibration or by movement of the track system or of the rolling stock thereon; to provide an improved construction by which the moving element of the switch is maintained in its proper horizontal plane of movement and prevented from rising above or falling below the main track rails: to provide an improved construction for the pivot joint by which the moving switch element is connected to the main track system; to provide an improved track switch which may be constructed from relatively thin sheet metal with a minimum of operations to provide an improved switch of the class described which shall be extremely simple and economical of construction, and, in general, to provide an improved construction of the type referred to.

My invention consists in the matters here inafter described and more particularly pointed out in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved miniature track switch; Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 1- 1 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an under side view of the switch-moving mechanism; and Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 I have shown a main track section designated as a whole 8 and a side track section designated as a whole 9. The rails of both tracks are constructed of relatively thin sheet metal drawn out to form an I section havlng a round top flange, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6. The tubular shape of the top of the rail forms a convenient construction for receiving the spacingpins 10 which enter the tubular openings in the rails of the main and side track extensions to which the switch may be connected. The under sides of the rails are fiat and rest upon sleepers 11, 12, 13, 11 and 15. All of these sleepers are formed of thin sheet metal of channel shape, and the sleepers 11 and 12, which are similar to those used in the ordinary line of track, have lugs punched upwardly from the tops of the sleepers which lugs are bent over to securely clasp the bottom flanges of the rails and thus hold the latter securely in position. The sleepers 13, 14: and 15, which form the foundation of the switch construction, are connected to the fixed rails of the track sections by soldering the bottom flanges of the latter to the upper surfaces of the sleepers at their side edges. The V connection between the rails 16 and 17 is made by taking a piece of rail of suitable length, cutting ofi a portion of the metal on one side and bending the rail at that point to form a V-shaped angular bend the point of which is soldered to the upper surface of the sleeper 13.

The switch proper comprises a single member 18 which is stamped from a blank of comparatively thin sheet metal and has its edges 19 and 20 bent up to form rails of the proper shape and height to connect with the main rails. At the facing end of the switch the sides of the member 18 are suitably tapered to fit against the sides of the main track to enable the wheels of the rolling stock to engage the switch without jumping. The sheet metal movable switch member 18 slides in a horizontal plane upon the sleepers 11 and 15 and is pivoted to the upper surface of the central switch sleeper 14,

the method of making this pivot connection being a new and important feature of my invention. To this end, by means of suitable dies, I strike out from the bottom of the switch member 18 a circular saucershaped depression with a hole in its center, and in the web of the sleeper 14 I form a similar saucer-shaped depression also provided with a hole in its center. The two members are held in engagement by a central eyelet 9.0 If desired, the diameter of the depression of the sleeper may be made ing between the surfaces of the switch memher and sleeper which would otherwise be present if the two depressions were of the same diameter will be avoided. The two ends of the switchmember 18 which slide upon the upper surfaces of the sleepers 13 and 15 are held down into their proper plane of movement in contact with the sleepers by m'eansof ears 21 which are punched out of the web and lie parallel therewith below it a suiiicient distance to admit the metal of the webs of'the sleepers. The ears are inserted in position through slots 22 and 28 whichare of a suliicient'width and length to prevent the roots of the ears'from binding on the edges of the slots as the switch member is operated. It will be apparent that the above arrangement results in a very simple and inexpensive construction while at the same time the switch member is positively located its proper pivotal position and is effectively maintained in the same horizontal plane as the main rails of both sections.

Describing the switch-operating mechanism, it will be noticed that the sleeper 15 extends out from one side of the track a considerable distance and at its outer end there is mounted thereon a switch stand 24 which consists of a triangular box-shaped piece of sheet metal the base of which is secured to the web of the end of the sleeper 15 by means of four lugs 25 which enter slots in the web of the sleeper and are clenched on the under side thereof. The sides of the triangular box-shaped member 24 aresp'aced apart a sufiicient distance to admit the hand-lever which is pivoted intermediate its ends'upon a rivet 27 connecting the tops of the two sides'of the switch stand. The lever 26 is constructed of a piece of relatively stiif flat metal punched out into a suitable shape, and the lower end thereof projects through a slot 28 punched out of the web of the sleeper '15. Slightly below the web of the'sl'eeper a hole is punched in the lower end of the switch lever to admit the operating rod 29 which, to this end, is bent at right angles, as shown. The operating rod 29 consists of a piece of relatively stiff resilient wire and the other end is also bent substantially at right angles so'as to project through a slot 30 in the web of the sleeper 15 between the main track rails and projects through and engages a hole 31 in the end of the web of the switch member 18. Itwill readily be understood that a movement'of the hand lever 26 results in a corresponding switching movement of the switch member 18. When the latter is in its full line position, as shown, the switch is set for main track movements of trains, and when the switch member is moved into the dotted line position the side track 9 is connected to the main track for branch line movements of trains. In order to prevent accidental displacement of the switch, due to vibration or shocks caused by cars in passing over the switch, I have provided an improved method of retaining the switch member 18 in itsproper position. To this end, substantially midway of the length of the operating-rod 29 I have formed a slight projection or crimp 32, and the operatingrod asa whole, before it is placed in pos1- tion, is given a considerable bend outwardly in the direction of the crimp. When in position, the operating-rod is maintained substantially straight by a lug 33 which is puncheddown from the web of the sleeper 15 a suflicient distance to admit the rod 29 and form a guide therefor and also in a suitable position so that the projection 32 will slide 'past the lug and thus lock the switch in position in whichever direction the lever is operated. It is of course obvious that the rod 29 is sprung in the proper direction to cause the middle thereof to press quite strongly against the side of the lug 33, and thus the friction of the rod itself as it slides past the lug is of considerable moment in retaining the switch in its proper position. It will be quite apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains that my invention is capable of considerable modification in its structural details without departing from the spirit. of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction shown except as specified in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a switch, the combination of two main rails parallel to each other for a portion of their length and diverging to form theouter sides of main and branch tracks, two inner rails meeting in a V and forming the inner sides of the main and branch tracks, a sleeper connecting the V and one of the diverging ends of the main rails, a sleeper connecting the parallel portions of the main rails, a third sleeper connecting the two main rails intermediate the first two sleepers, and a movable switch member pivoted upon said third sleeper and having sliding engagement with and interlocked with said first two sleepers, said switch member having a pair of integrally formed tracks thereon adapted alternately to connect said rails with the V.

2. In a miniature track switch, the combination of a channel-shaped sheet metal sleeper, located at the end of the switch and a movable sheet -n 1eta-l switch member 11w ing a flat surface adapted to slide upon the web of the sleeper and having an integral tongue portion slidably engaging the under surface of said sleeper web. a

3. In a miniature track switch, the combination of a channel-shaped sheet metal sleeper located at each end of the switch, a third V-shaped sleeper located between said first two sleepers, and a movable sheet metal switch member having a fiat surface at each end thereof adapted to slide upon the web of each end sleeper and also an integral tongue portion insertible through an opening in each end sleeper and adapted to engage the horizontal web of each of said end sleepers on its under side, said switch memher being pivoted upon said third intermediate sleeper and being adapted to oscillate in a horizontal plane.

4:. In a miniature track switch, the combination of a movable switch member, a longitudinally movable resilient operating-rod connected to said switch member, and a fixed member adapted to flex said rod and forming a guide for said rod intermediate its ends.

5. In a miniature track switch, the combination of a movable switch member, a longitudinally movable resilient operating-rod connected to said switch member, and a fixed guide member adapted to flex said rod intermediate its ends provided with a projection, said projection being adapted to engage said guide member after an operative movement of said rod.

CLARENCE E. DOTY.

/ Witnesses:

C. A. Some, EMILIE Rose.

Women of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patentn. Washington, 1D. 1D. 

